Knoxville Gets 'Hazzard' Duty at Warners

By
Borys Kit
| Posted Sept. 10, 2004, midnight

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Johnny Knoxville will play Luke Duke opposite Seann William Scott's Bo Duke in "The Dukes of Hazzard," a big-screen version of the 1980s television series that Warner Bros. Pictures is mounting in association with Village Roadshow.

Jay Chandrasekhar is directing.

The series, which debuted in 1979 on CBS, followed the weekly adventures of Bo and Luke, cousins who raised hell driving their souped-up Dodge Charger nicknamed the General Lee in fictional Hazzard County in the South. They, along with their cousin Daisy and Uncle Jesse, staged running battles with the corrupt authorities, Boss Hogg and Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane.

Jessica Simpson has screen-tested for the role of Daisy Duke.

Broken Lizard, the comedy troupe that includes Chandrasekhar as well as Erik Stolhanske, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter and Kevin Heffernan, are writing the feature. The troupe was behind the 2001 cult hit "Super Troopers" as well as the more recent "Club Dread." Both were directed by Chandrasekhar.

Bill Gerber, whose credits include "The In-Laws" and "What a Girl Wants," is producing. Village Roadshow's Bruce Berman is exec producing.

Production executive Greg Silverman is overseeing on the Warners side, while Dana Goldberg oversees for Village Roadshow.

A start date has not yet been set.

Chandrasekhar also directed episodes of "Arrested Development," "Andy Richter Controls the Universe" and "Undeclared." He, as well as Broken Lizard, is repped by UTA, 3 Arts and attorney John Sloss.

Knoxville is filming "Lords of Dogtown" and also is attached to "Hawaiian Dick" at New Line. Scott last starred in "The Rundown" and is shooting Richard Kelly's "Southland Tales." Both are repped by CAA.